It
was my birthday on the 1st of September and as I'm sure you all know my
passions are; my wonderful husband Peter, then books and music, not
forgetting my huge family and all the pets. So you can imagine my
delight when I open the wrapping paper and there is a scruffy board backed book called "Struwwelpeter" oh my goodness, I was so happy. The book
was written first in 1846 and my copy was printed in the early 1900's
without having a date or Author listed just Blackie who were the publishers. I hope to put
all the pictures and stories between this web site and Seligor's Castle. They are not the nicest of stories I must admit, but if your
good and kind then I'm sure you will be alright.
The gentleman who wrote the book is , I shall let Wiki tell you;
Der Struwwelpeter (1845) is a popular German children's book by Heinrich Hoffmann. It comprises ten illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children. Each has a clear moral
that demonstrates the disastrous consequences of misbehavior in an
exaggerated way. The title of the first story provides the title of the
whole book. Literally translated, Struwwel-Peter means Shaggy-Peter.
Hoffmann, a Frankfurt psychiatrist, wanted to buy a picture book for his son for Christmas in 1844. Not impressed by what the stores had to offer, he instead bought a notebook and wrote his own stories and pictures. Hoffmann was persuaded by friends to publish the book anonymously as Lustige Geschichten und drollige Bilder mit 15 schön kolorierten Tafeln für Kinder von 3-6 Jahren
(Funny Stories and Whimsical Pictures with 15 Beautifully Coloured
Panels for Children Aged 3 to 6) in 1845.
It was not until the third
edition in 1858 that the book was published under the title Struwwelpeter.The book became very popular among children throughout Europe, and,
writes author and researcher Penni Cotton, the pictures and characters
showed a great deal of originality and directness.Struwwelpeter has been translated into several languages.The first English translation appeared in 1848. Mark Twain's English translation of the book is called "Slovenly Peter."
This is the book cover, a bit scruffy but I don't think it would have bothered our Struwwelpeter very much, just look at those finger nails. (I hope he never tried to pick his nose!
In 2006, Fantagraphics Books published the first completely digital version of Struwwelpeter, reinterpreted and illustrated by Bob Staake.
The wonderful Video Stories come from
the fabulous youtube as usual.
The Story of Augustus who would not have any Soup
Augustus was a chubby lad; Fat ruddy cheeks Augustus had: And everybody saw with joy The plump and hearty, healthy boy. He ate and drank as he was told, And never let his soup get cold. But one day, one cold winter's day, He screamed out "Take the soup away! O take the nasty soup away! I won't have any soup to-day."
Next day, now look, the picture shows How lank and lean Augustus grows! Yet, though he feels so weak and ill, The naughty fellow cries out still "Not any soup for me, I say: O take the nasty soup away! I won't have any soup today."
The third day comes: Oh what a sin! To make himself so pale so thin. Yet, when the soup is put on table, He screams, as loud as he is able: "Not any soup for me I say: O take the nasty soup away! I WON'T have any soup to-day!
TOM THIN AND TOM THUMB
Here is a small story I found whilst looking through my many childrens books. It's about the letters TH and the story they can tell
Once upon a time there were two little boys. One was so tall and Thin that the boys called him Tom Thin, and the other little boy was so small that they called him Tom Thumb. One day they put on their hats and went out together. As they went along, Tom Thin said, "I think I can hear thunder." It was thunder, too, and down came the rain. Just then a kind lady saw them, and she said: Come in, my boys, you will get soaking wet. They both said "Thank you, and went inside. The lady said: I think I know you both, it is Tom Thin and Tom Thumb surely. She was so kind, she phoned their mother to tell them where they where and then she gave them a really nice tea. The bread was cut thin, the butter was rather thick, and the jam was very thick indeed! Soon after they had fisished their tea the thunder had gone and the boys said thank you very much to the lady and went off home. I wonder how many words there are with TH in the story. You may want to count them and get mummy to check if you are right.
There is another sound very like TH which we have to stick our tongues out a litle in order to make the TH sound and that is CH, this word though is more like a sneezing sound.
Mother called the story ;
"What Charlie Saw,"
One day little Charlie and his mother went out for a walk. Charlie had a bit of a cold, so he wore a scarf on his chest. His mother said she should call him Chilly Charlie. As they went down the road, they saw a picture of Chin-chin China man. Then they saw a band with the queen's flag, and the boys in the street sang: Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue; and Cheer, Boys, Cheer! When they arrived at the toy shop they saw lots of things in the window. The bought a box of chalks, a toy chicken that ran along on a little wheel and a big wheel which made it go up and down And a toy watch on a chain just like daddies. Then they went into the tea-shop and that was great fun for Charlie. After he had had some bread and butter, his mother let him have some cheese cakes and some chocolates, and they took a cherry cake home for Daddy.
Gosh look at the time already, it is almost 02.15 in the morning and Diddilydeedot is very tired, so like Charlie and Tom Thin and Tom Thumb, I think it is well past my bed time. I will see you all again tomorrow with a few more rhymes and special words, I know a good one, SH, that's a great sound and quiet one already.
In 1891, Edgar Guest came with his family to the United States from England. After he began at the Detroit Free Press as a copy boy and then a reporter, his first poem appeared December 11, 1898. He became a naturalized citizen in 1902.
It Couldn't Be Done Edgar A Guest
Somebody said that it couldn't be done, But he with a chuckle replied That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that; At least no one ever has done it"; But he took off his coat and he took off his hat, And the first thing we knew he'd begun it. With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start to sing as you tackle the thing That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.
LEFT OVERS! and Special Things just 4 U
Diddily Dee Dot's Dreamland Brings you a collection of Left Overs and things. Boring, "nah you'll love them all."
Do you know what? For the life of me I can't remember what this Video is about.
JUST CLICK ^ ON THE DVD SLOT NEXT TO START ON VIDEO BOX IF THE "ERROR" SLOGAN SHOWS
Ah!
only kidding, it's the wonderful Jorgeembon, with a selection of songs
in different languages. I am absolutely certain that you will know all
of the tunes though. Row, Row, Row. See what I mean
1 mug plain flour Same mug of milk 2 lge eggs Pinch of salt
Whisk all ingredients together Then cook in small amount of oil,
(best thing here is to pour some oil in an omelette pan, heat the oil and then pour into pyrex jug, keep warm by cooker. Each time you pour the oil in the pan, make sure bottom is covered and then when hot pour off the residue and then pour pancake mixture into the pan. Don't over cook and don't put too much pancake mixture into the pan. Just cover the bottom, it will grow upwards as it cooks. Please, please, please, make sure you get an adults help. This is a very dangerous cooking bit. you can do the weighing and the mixing, Dollop the icecream on when the pancke has cooled, not altogether you want it to run a bit, My favourite is Vanilla ice cream and Maple Syrup. yummy yummy yum.....
It is a good idea to use very, very cold ice
cream, keep in freezer till ready to use.
Just wrap a warm crêpe around a scoop of ice cream, drizzle
with chocolate sauce, or any syrup and top withberries.
The Tea Party
The Crabs of Sea-weed Villa Were friendly as could be; Their neighbours they invited
One afternoon for tea;
And there was welcome hearty For guests both great and small, And dainties on the table To please the fishes all.
The Lobster and the Salmon In party frocks were dressed; The Turbot and the Herring Each looked her very best But, sad to say, their manners Were not at all polite, Their food was simply gobbled- Twas not a pleasant sight!
They never once said "thank you', And never "If you Please,' "We've so enjoyed the party,' Or pretty words like these.
And then away they hurried (You'll scarce believe it true); That Mrs. Crab felt "Crabby" I'm not surprised - are you?
A fishy poem by Marian Isabel Hurrell. Revived by Diddilydeedot for Seligor's Castle
Marian Isabel Hurrell seems to have written a lot of books and poems but it is very difficult to know exactly when. Anyway
I was just looking through the "Chatterbox 1913" where I found the Tea
Party and I found another poem called "Poor Jacko" I think I shall put
it in Jaimies Jungle Box.
Furry Crab
The "yeti crab," discovered on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is so
extraordinary that a new taxonomic family had to be invented for it.
THE GINGERBREAD MAN
Once upon a time there was a little old man and his wife. They lived
all alone and were very happy together, but they had always wanted a
child so they decided they would make one out of gingerbread. The little old woman got all the ingredients and a little magic dust from the fairy Aubergine and with a little help from the little old man they made a little gingerbread man and put him
in the oven to bake. When the gingerbread man was
ready, very carefully the little old woman opened the oven door and pulled out
the pan. Quick as a flash, off jumped the little gingerbread man, and away he
ran straight out the door. The little old man and his wife ran after him
as fast as they could, but he just laughed and said,
"Run, run, as fast
as you can
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
The gingerbread man ran on and
on until he came to a cow. "Stop, little gingerbread man,"
said the cow. "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread
man said, "I have run away from a little old woman and a
little old man, and I can run away from you, too. I can, I can!"
The cow began to chase the gingerbread man, but the gingerbread
man ran faster, and said,
"Run, run, as fast
as you can
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
The cow couldn't catch him so the gingerbread man ran on until
he came to a horse. "Please, stop, little gingerbread man,"
said the horse.
"I want to eat you." "Not likely. " said the gingerbread man. "I
have run away from a little old woman, a little old man, and the cow,
and I'll run away from you too. I will, I will!" And the horse
began to chase the gingerbread man, but the gingerbread man ran
faster and called to the horse,
"Run, run, as fast
as you can. You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
It was true though,the horse couldn't catch him and it wasn't long before the ginger -bread man came
to a field full of farmers. "Stop," said the farmers.
"Don't run so fast. We want to eat you." But the gingerbread
man said, "I have run away from a little old woman, a little
old man, a cow and a horse, I'm sure I can run away from you, too. You just watch me!" And the farmers began to chase him, but the gingerbread
man ran faster than ever and said,
"Run, run, as fast
as you can.
You can't catch me! I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
And as much as the farmers tried they couldn't catch him for the ginger -bread man
ran faster and faster. He ran past a school full of children. "Stop,
little gingerbread man," said the children. "We want to
eat you." But the gingerbread man said, "I have run away
from a little old woman, a little old man, a cow, and a horse, a
field full of farmers, and I can run away from you, too. I can,
I can!" And the children began to chase him down the lane, but the gingerbread
man ran faster as he said,
"Run, run, as fast
as you can.
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
And still nobody could catch him, not even the children couldn't catch him, and by this time the gingerbread man
was so proud of himself he didn't think anyone could catch him.
It was then he met a sly old fox. "Stop little gingerbread man, I want
to talk to you!" he smiled. But the Gingerbread man ran away
singing...
Run, run, as fast as you
can.
You can't catch me!
I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
Hey "I
don't want to eat you. I'm your friend." said the sly fox. It was then the gingerbread man came
to a river. He looked at the fox, then at the river, he knew he would melt if he tried to swim across. "Jump on my tail," said the fox. "I
will take you across." So without giving it another thought, the gingerbread man jumped on the
fox's tail, and the fox began to swim across the river. When they
had gone a little way, the fox said to the gingerbread man, "I'm sorry mate but you
are too heavy on my tail. Jump up here on my back." Again the gingerbread man did what the fox asked and jumped on his back. The fox swam a little further and said, "Look mate, I really am sorry but I'm afraid
you'll get wet on my back. Jump up on my shoulder."
The
gingerbread man did what the fox asked. They reached the middle of the river, the fox said, "Oh dear, my shoulder is sinking, quick jump on my nose that's the only way I can keep you from getting wet." Without hesitation, the little gingerbread man jumped
on the fox's nose. The fox threw back his head and snapped his sharp
teeth, and in one gulp the gingerbread man was gone.
Deep within the fox's belly.
The
truth is if the Gingerbread Man had stayed with the old couple and
become there little boy, he could have lived a happy life for no one
would have wanted to eat him then. But instead he ended up being eaten
by a sly old fox and he was gone forever. Best to appreciate what you
have and not look for what you don't know.
Brer Rabbit Plays Tug of War
Creek/Muscogee Tribe retold by S. E. Schlosser
Now Rabbit had a favorite place on the river where he always
went to drink water. It was on a bend in the river, and two Snakes
lived there, one on the upper side of the bend and one on the lower.
Rabbit soon learned that neither of the Snakes knew that the other
Snake lived there.
Ho, ho, ho, thought Rabbit. I am going to have a bit of fun!
Rabbit went to the Snake that lived on the upper bend of the river. "I
am a very strong Rabbit," he told the Snake. "I bet I can pull you
right out of the water."
"I bet you can't!" said the Snake, who was very strong indeed.
"I will go get a grape vine," said Rabbit. "You will pull one
end and I will pull the other. "If I pull you out of the water, I win
the contest. If you pull me into the water, then I win."
The Snake on the upper bend agreed. Then Rabbit went to the
Snake on the lower bend and made the same deal. He told both Snakes
that he would be standing out of sight on top of the river bank and
would give a whoop when he was in place and ready to start the contest. Both Snakes were pleased with the arrangement. They were sure they
would win against such a feeble little Rabbit.
Rabbit took a long grape vine and strung it across the wide
bend in the river. He handed one end to the first Snake and the other
end to the second Snake. Then he gave a loud whoop from the middle of
the river bank and the two Snakes started tugging and pulling with all
their might. "That Rabbit is really strong," thought the Snake on the upper bank. He
would tug and tug and the vine would come a little closer to him and
then he would nearly be pulled out of the water.
"My, Rabbit is much stronger than he appears," thought the Snake on the
lower bank after he was almost hurled out of the water by an extra
strong pull from up the river.
Rabbit sat on the bank above both Snakes and laughed and laughed. The
Snakes heard him laughing and realized that they had been fooled.
Letting go of the rope, they swam to the middle of the bend and met
each other for the first time.
Both Snakes were angry with Rabbit for making them look foolish. They
agreed that Rabbit could no longer drink from his favorite place on the
river bend where they lived. In spite of his protests, they sent Rabbit
away and would not let him come down to the riverbank anymore. So
whenever Rabbit grew thirsty, he had to turn himself into a faun in
order to get a drink from the river. After that, Rabbit decided not to play any more jokes on Snakes.
ren
Next day, now look, the picture shows
TOM THIN AND TOM THUMB
umb.
She was so kind, she phoned their mother to tell them where they where and then she gave them a really nice tea. The bread was cut thin, the butter was rather thick, and the jam was very thick indeed!
much to the lady and went off home.
hree cheers for the Red, White and Blue; and Cheer, Boys, Cheer!
Stumble It!
The Tea Party
The Lobster and the Salmon
They never once said "thank you',
Once upon a time there was a little old man and his wife. They lived
all alone and were very happy together, but they had always wanted a
child so they decided they would make one out of gingerbread. 
The little old man and his wife ran after him
as fast as they could, but he just laughed and said,
The cow began to chase the gingerbread man, but the gingerbread
man ran faster, and said,
And the horse
began to chase the gingerbread man, but the gingerbread man ran
faster and called to the horse,
"Run, run, as fast
as you can. 
Without hesitation, the little gingerbread man jumped
on the fox's nose. The fox threw back his head and snapped his sharp
teeth, and in one gulp the gingerbread man was gone. 
